Democratic Leader Gephardt Joins Congressmen Capuano and Moakley at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children

January 10, 2000 -- Today Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) joined Congressman Capuano (D-MA) and Congressman Moakley (D-MA) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for a briefing on the services available to children and their families. MGH is renaming its pediatric department the "MassGeneral Hospital for Children", creating a hospital within a hospital, to emphasize the importance of pediatric services and research to the institution.

"For many of us working in Pediatrics, the change in the name also better reflects what our service is," says R. Alan B. Ezekowitz, MBChB, DPhil, chief of the Pediatric Service at the MassGeneral for Children. "We are a full service pediatric health care provider with the ability to offer all the technologies and expertise that a general hospital can offer," says Ezekowitz.
Massachusetts General Hospital was founded in 1811. It is the oldest and largest teaching hospital of the Harvard Medical School. It conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with an annual research budget exceeding $200 million.

"Institutions like the MassGeneral Hospital for Children are critical to our health care system. With an emphasis on family-centered care and a commitment to pediatric research, MGH represents what is right with our health care system. All members of the Massachusetts delegation are committed to protecting and increasing the federal investment in our great teaching hospitals," stated Congressman Capuano.

"Massachusetts General Hospital really exemplifies the connection between basic research and medical care. MGH is committed to increasing our understanding of disease in an effort to improve patient care and we must continue to support institutions like it all across this country," stated Rep. Gephardt.

Rep. Joe Moakley said, "Massachusetts General Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the world. People from all over the world look to MGH for leadership and this pediatric ‘hospital within a hospital' is only the beginning of even more specialized health services designed specifically for our children. I am pleased to have been able to show House Democratic Leader Gephardt our great hospital and the efforts its excellent staff is making toward improving health care for everyone, regardless of age."